Hypothyroidism is a condition in which thyroid hormone is not secreted sufficiently due to the thyroid gland working less than normal. Since these secreted hormones regulate metabolism, in case of low secretion into the blood, the person may experience weakness and fatigue, dryness and flaking of the skin, enlargement of the tongue and hoarseness of the voice in the later stages. An enlarged thyroid gland, fatigue, weight gain and depression may be among the common symptoms of hypothyroidism.
While T3 and T4 levels are normal in blood tests, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are high. In cases where the disease is uncontrolled, the person may experience weight gain, a decrease in body temperature and blurred consciousness. If these symptoms occur together, a specialist should be consulted immediately and thyroid functions should be measured.
What are the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism?
While thesymptoms of hypothyroidism may vary depending on the severity of the hormone deficiency, the symptoms that occur can be listed as follows:
- Fatigue
- Anemia
- Insomnia (Insomnia)
- Hoarseness
- Skin dryness
- Muscle aches and muscle cramps
- Sensitivity to cold
- Abnormal weight gain
- Constipation
- Menstrual irregularity in women
- Slowness of movements and thoughts
- Depression
- Enlargement of the thyroid gland
- Memory impairment
- Hearing disorders
- Less sweating
- Loss of libido
What Causes Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism, which occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, can have many different causes. Among the common causes are as follows:
Autoimmune Disease: The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's disease. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system produces antibodies that attack the body's healthy tissues. In some cases, these antibodies are produced against the thyroid gland.
Thyroid Surgery: Surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland can reduce or completely stop hormone production.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation used to treat head and neck cancers can affect the thyroid gland and cause this condition.
Medicines: Some medications can cause under-secretion of thyroid hormone and lead to this condition. An example is lithium, which is used to treat some psychiatric disorders.
Congenital Problems: Some babies may be born with a thyroid gland that does not work properly or without a thyroid gland. In most cases, the reason for the thyroid gland not developing properly is not clear.
Pituitary Disorder: This is a rare cause. The pituitary gland does not produce enough thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
Pregnancy: Some women may develop hypothyroidism during or after pregnancy. This is usually caused by the body producing antibodies against its own cells during pregnancy. It is a condition that needs to be treated. If left untreated, the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and pregnancy poisoning (pre-eclampsia) may increase.
Iodine Deficiency: The thyroid gland needs the mineral iodine to produce thyroid hormones. Insufficient iodine intake can cause this condition, while excessive iodine intake can worsen symptoms in people who already have the disease.
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?
Symptoms of hypothyroidism can vary from person to person. And they often look like symptoms of other health problems. Therefore, the diagnosis of hypothyroidism is not based on symptoms alone. It is often based on the results of blood tests.
The diagnosis of hypothyroidism can often be determined based on the results of blood tests. The blood test looks at the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood. A high level of TSH and a very low level of the thyroid hormone T4 means hypothyroidism.
However, if the TSH level is high and the T4 level is normal, there is a risk of having this disease in the future. With the diagnosis of the disease by the specialist doctor, treatment planning is made and blood tests and hormone level controls are performed regularly in this process.
How is hypothyroidism treated?
Hypothyroidism treatment is usually done by giving thyroid hormone support to the person. With this goal, since the T4 hormone in the body is not sufficient, this deficiency is eliminated with external drug therapy.
Drug treatment improves complaints in about 2 weeks. The dose of the drug to be used is determined by the specialist doctor and is usually started at low doses. The dose is increased at regular intervals until the hormone level reaches normal levels.
Once the thyroid hormone reaches normal levels, the person should go for a check-up every 6 months or once a year and find out whether the thyroid hormone level in the blood is normal.
This should be checked more frequently during pregnancy, in old age and in patients with heart disease. This is because thyroid medicines make the heart work faster. Therefore, the medication must be adjusted correctly and appropriately.